We are all buzzing after today's result, so seemed a good time to start the next match day thread and look forward.

 

The Saints seem to be in a run of patchy form, but nevertheless remain dangerous. Recently they held City at their place so I expect a tough game.

 

Before Arsenal I said if we could come away with 5 points out of the 9 from the following 3 games we would have done well. We ended up with 7 and we have done fantastically to get them from 2 in form sides.

 

Before we host United in January we have Saints and Hull City away. While our home form has been superb our away form is lacking, and that must improve if we are to remain in the title hunt. We also have an away match at Derby in the FA cup, a game we should be winning as we should be aiming to go on and win the cup.

 

If we gain 4 points and a birth in the next round of the cup from these 3 games we will have done well imo, but hopefully we can take 6. Anything less than 4 points, and at least a replay from the Derby game, would be a backwards step after this great spell.

 

Seems David Luiz picked up a 5th yellow against Liverpool so misses this game. No word yet on Brana or Frank.

 

More to come as we learn more. Confidence back up lads and ladies?

Another nervy win

Hope we continue with a good run

Seems like also no Lamps or Brana:

 

"Having lost both Branislav Ivanovic and Frank Lampard to injury before the second half, the Chelsea manager provided an update on the pair.

'Lampard's is a muscular injury, so forget him for a bit of time, it's too early to say how long. Ivanovic was his lateral ligament, we don't think it's a big thing but it's a painful thing.

'Normally he will be out too but that's the consequence of such a hard period. It was difficult because in the second half I wanted to bring Schurrle into the game but I couldn't because I'd made two changes before the second half.'"

 

Source: http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3596476/title/final-whistle-verdict-big-match-big-win

Edited December 29, 201312 yr by axman2526

Rami's back though just play Rami, Oscar and Mata in midfield

Cech

 

Azpi Terry Cahill Cole

 

Ramires / Mikel

 

Oscar Mata Hazard

 

Torres

Hmmm, not easy ... 1-1 ... we comfortably beat them at home but I think this may be much closer ...

Southampton's early form has deserted them a little in the last 6 weeks but I would hate to think we would be complacent about this game as they will be a tough nut to crack at their place. 

 

The enforced changes of Ivan (for Cole) and Lampard (for Ramires) and maybe Torres to start ahead of Eto'o should be the only changes from today's starting line up and hopefully we will start the game in the same manner we started today.

Southampton's lack of squad depth is catching up on them recently , especially as they play a high press game. I expect us to introduce at least 4 fresh players all of which are quality and expect this to tip the game in our favour. Squads become more evident as we reach January and the league will start to stretch out now.

Southampton's early form has deserted them a little in the last 6 weeks but I would hate to think we would be complacent about this game as they will be a tough nut to crack at their place. 

 

The enforced changes of Ivan (for Cole) and Lampard (for Ramires) and maybe Torres to start ahead of Eto'o should be the only changes from today's starting line up and hopefully we will start the game in the same manner we started today.

Without the conceding of a goal within 3 minutes part right? Though that still is a lot later than when the Saints scored at the Bridge lol. Though I guess so long as we win does not matter if we lose an early one.

 

Also with Luiz banned we have to make at least one more change.

Southampton's early form has deserted them a little in the last 6 weeks but I would hate to think we would be complacent about this game as they will be a tough nut to crack at their place. 

 

The enforced changes of Ivan (for Cole) and Lampard (for Ramires) and maybe Torres to start ahead of Eto'o should be the only changes from today's starting line up and hopefully we will start the game in the same manner we started today.

You can win and their defence is suspect but their be dangerous going forward and you lost 3-1 their last season. Both teams will be tired and their dangerous team but you can win their. big two away games at southampton and hull coming up for you before united.

Oh yeh, forgot about Luiz (and yes obviously not conceding!) So quite a few changes then!

Wonder if this is a good game for Schurrle, will the Saints offer us room to counter?

Wonder if this is a good game for Schurrle, will the Saints offer us room to counter?

can see him playing. issue you had away is that you not defended well. bar away at us, united and west ham you not kept a clean sheet away in the league. lossed silly goals at stoke, sunderland, newcastle. so important you keep it tight. win ugly. we did it today. you can do it at southampton. important you win as we could be four ahead of you come end of news year day if you draw

Edited December 29, 201312 yr by redandwhite3

Side for a defensive game? That would most likely be:

 

Cech, Azpi, Cahill, JT, Cole, Mikel, Ramires, Oscar, Willian, Hazard, Torres.

I'd like to see:

Cech

Apzi

Terry

Cahill

Cole

Rami

Oscar

Mata

Hazard

Torres

Willian

Cech

 

Cole

Terry

Cahill

Azpilcueta

 

Mikel

Ramires

 

Shurrle

Mata

Willian

 

Eto'o

Edited December 29, 201312 yr by Zeta Orionis

Cech

 

Cole

Terry

Cahill

Azpilcueta

 

Luiz

Ramires

 

Shurrle

Mata

Willian

 

Eto

luis is suspended is he not

luis is suspended is he not

 

Wouldn't know, i put Mikel in, not Luiz. 

Wouldn't know, i put Mikel in, not Luiz. 

Fair enough . Tough game and must win as we win for sure vs caridff. you don,t want go four behind us. Keep gap within two of us is important

Think we'll see Mata and Schurrle feature.  

 

................Cech

Azpi....Cahil..Terry...Cole

.......Ramires..Mikel

Schurrle...Mata...Hazard

..............Torres

I think this is a must win really as I think we should stay close to City as possible. They have an easy run of games this month before they play us. I'm sure they could slip up but I really feel we need to be going into that game a point behind at most. We need to take this game by the scruff of the neck and look forward to Hull. Sorry to the Arsenal poster on this forum but for myself, I fear City the most as title favorites, not Arsenal

Cech

Azpilecuta Terry Cahill Cole

Ramires Mikel/Essien

Schurrle Mata Willian/Oscar

Torres/Ba

We lost here last season, Marin started remember him 

Edited December 30, 201312 yr by FLYMJ

Southampton are out of sorts now, we should be able to beat them and a Mikel Ramires midfield pairing should work for this match.

None of the leading teams are blinking just yet. Great chance to try the ramires Willian combo in midfield. Shame luiz can't play as he seemed to do an excellent job in midfield.

Cech

Dave Gary terry cole

Ramires Willian

Mata Oscar schurle

Eto

I'm testing hazard for the united game